loch etive

As the hotel got busier, I became more and more embarassed, as the guests who did not book out directly after booking in were very uncomunecative at breakfast, where I was forced to meet them, and I decided to try and vacuum the rooms when Anne was out,. and just see that it was in a decent state. My efforts did not yield any results where the carpets were concerned, as the wee vacuum cleaner she had bought was so weak it couldn't lift a bally duckling feather, so lifting the Labrador hair that was clinging like dung on a woolen blanket was quite impossible. I did however sneak the towels down to the laundry to soften them up in the tumble drier, and took a room every day to try and get rid of the lime scale on the showers. It really broke my heart to see this absolute disregard of the guests comfort and enjoyment of their stay, and thinking of how Liz drilled the right ways into us made me so angry.

But on my days off I tried to forget all about my worries, and went all over the place with my ever willing little Panda.
I have noticed a signboard for loch Etive when I took Jan and Nina to Fort William, and decided to take my tent and chill out there, just to get away from the hotel and the accusing eyes of the guests, so I was up at about six on my first day, and onto the road by seven, my tent and other camping stuff, and some food in the back of the car. It was a glorious day, the sun shining down warmly through the window, and I was just about delirious from pure joy to be out in the fresh air.
What I could never understand about the Scotts is that they do not really enjoy their wonderful country, preferring a pub to going out for a picnic, and it took some really hard work to get Liz to go out with me, and now I think that she enjoys it almost as much as me. But most of the time when going into the wilds I prefer to be on my own, and sleep over in my tent.  And anyway, after our camping and the midge episode in Glen Lyon, Liz never wanted to sleep out again, and that suited me, as it was in the early dusk that most animals show themselves, and not a lot of people can sit quietly for long stretches just watching and enjoying whatever came into view.
I drove to where an old and dilapidated wee jetty was still hanging on to the side of the loch. This jetty was used many years ago to load sheep and wood, and that was then taken to the big cities, I suppose the sheep for slaughtering. It was breathtakingly beautiful, and the fact that there was nobody in sight just heightened my pleasure, not that I dislike people, and in the cities and touristy spots I love to watch them, but in a remote spot like this, I prefer to watch the scenery, and what animals I can see.
I found a wonderful camping spot alonfg the river, and after putting up my tent I went for a dip in the icy cold water, but felt alive and refreshed after, then started my wee barbeque, and sitting there with the quietness, and dusk falling slowly and gently, I could just as well have been in heaven!
It was such a shock and a nice surprise to see a flock of ducks walking along the road, then took a shortcut to the river, there being nothing else in sight at that spot, and I was musing for long after about their being there, quite happy and looking plump and well fed.